The Los Angeles Dodgers lost another pitcher to the injured list on Monday when Joe Kelly was sidelined due to right shoulder inflammation. Kelly joined Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood as Dodgers pitchers who have been placed on the IL since Opening Day.
Wood has been out since July 28, also because of inflammation in his throwing shoulder. The Dodgers shut him down for a brief stretch but now Wood was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Monday.
“It’s going to be an up and down, similar to what Clayton did a couple weeks ago,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It’ll be right around 30 pitches; 15 pitches, then sit and get up again for 15. We’ll see how that goes.”
Should Wood come out of the throwing session session without suffering a setback, he would be on track to face batters Thursday. However, the Dodgers are not yet certain when Wood might be activated.
“No timetable,” Roberts said. “Thursday would be the next progression, and that would be a simulated game facing some hitters. I don’t know if it would be here against some of our guys or going to the secondary site.
Kelly’s IL stint is retroactive to Sunday, and won’t count for games served once a ruling is rendered on his appeal of an eight-game suspension.
“Joe just has some shoulder discomfort,” Roberts said. “Throwing, it’s fine, not great, and it’s been bothering him for a few days. I know he had an MRI, but I can’t give you the diagnosis right now. Give him some time on the IL to let it calm down a little bit and hopefully he’s ready once that 10 days is up.”
Pitcher injuries are up across the sport, which Roberts believes in some part was related to the rapid build-up process during Summer Camp. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence,” he said. “I think the short ramp-up is part of it. Fortunately, I think Alex’s and Joe’s situation is very benign and short-term. And I think we do a very good job of managing workload.”
Dodgers hopeful Corey Seager avoids IL
Corey Seager was out of the lineup Monday for a third consecutive game as he recovers from lower back trouble.
“Just continuing to progress. We’re giving him treatment, he’s moving around better,” Roberts said. “I’m not sure when he’s going to get back on the field to start running around, taking ground balls, let alone taking swings. Once that date comes, we’ll have more clarity.”
The Dodgers have held off on placing Seager on the IL, which remains the tentative plan.
“As far as the active roster, fortunately with the versatility we do have, it’s not as imperative,” Roberts said. “We’re trying to net out not having Corey for four or five days but potentially having him for four or five days (after recovering). That possibility versus not having him for 10 days. We’re kind of trying to weigh it.
“Right now we certainly managing and feel OK about it.”
Teams can backdate an IL stint by a maximum of three days. Thus, L.A. could theoretically could place Seager on the IL on Tuesday without having cost themselves credit for any time as the original move would have been made Saturday anyhow.
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